By Sofia Nasir
SHAH ALAM, Feb 13 — State executive council for environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin has reassured that the hot weather condition affecting certain areas in Selangor remains under control and does not pose any significant concerns.
She said she has not received any information from the Selangor Environment Department (DOE) pertaining to a drought threat.
“As of now, DOE has not provided any warnings regarding the drought season. We will pay close attention if there are any such updates from the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
"At the moment, everything is under control. If there is a warning (of drought), we will be informed," she said when contacted.
MetMalaysia, in its statement on Monday, issued a Level 1 heatwave warning to four districts in the peninsula, namely Langkawi and Pokok Sena in Kedah, and Seberang Perai Utara and Seberang Perai Tengah in Penang.
The warning is issued if a location records temperatures between 35°C and 37°C for three consecutive days.
Previously, state executive council for infrastructure Izham Hashim had said that Selangor is well-equipped to face any potential prolonged droughts caused by the El Nino phenomenon, which is forecasted beginning this quarter.
He said the state’s water reserves are capable of meeting the population’s needs for approximately nine months.
According to him, the state’s reservoirs have the capability of storing water reserves sufficient for six months, with additional backup from water storage ponds that can last an additional three months.
He added that the state government has taken several initiatives and initiated a number of projects to ensure a continuous supply of clean water in Selangor under any circumstances, including droughts.
